How it all happened - His story

You said you want the long story?

Starting from the day I entered the Missionary Training Center, I met my companion, Elder Heuer, one of the things we have in common is that we're both talkative. We talked to a lot of other fellow missionaries, elders and sister alike, but probably most sisters... we'd talked to them while waiting in line, when we were outdoors studying, we'd stop random ones to testify in our mission language, etc. etc. etc. My point is we talked! Now I used to be super interested in linguistics, and still am, I just don't have the time now that I had then. I spoke fluent Spanish, and had it as a goal to keep it fluent even though I would be in Russia. I failed at reaching that goal. But I was good at it in the MTC, talked plenty with the spanish speakers, I even went on the Spanish speaking tour for Temple Square.

Anyway, the day finally came when the group ahead of us left for Russia/Baltics/Ukraine! We became the knowledgable, know-it-alls that could teach the younger group everything, and give 'em help, hehe, to be honest, I enjoyed it a lot! :) I kept seeing this one Mexican looking girl, I thought "meh, she probably doesn't belong here, she's probably just visiting a friend." I finally came close enough to read her nametag, and it read Сестра Rivas, so I knew she was serving in a Russian-speaking mission, but to break the Siberian Ice I asked "do you know Spanish?" and of course she did! so we were Spanish-speaking buddies.


I admit, I found her to be cute! However, I was too shy, and too into my role as a missionary to do anything appropriate. But she was cute. So I was happy, I'd found someone with whom I could practice my Spanish. I have another confession, is this a sin? I'd use her to sneak in the lunch line... bad? haha, whatever, everyone got fed, and no one ever died of hunger in the MTC, most actually gained weight. So, from my point of view, we had good contact already in the MTC.

The day came, when my group FINALLY got to go to Russia! Although it was the most spiritual place I've been besides our temples, it felt SO good to finally leave the place. so, that meant it's time to get everybody's contact information. Before my mission I'd developed a special way of getting a girl's attention, it was "if you want a girl to like you, you need her friends to like you too" (which obviously never worked, since I hardly ever dated, hah!) but, so when it came to getting Sister Rivas' contact information, I asked the companion first, then for her's... It worked, and I think she got a little jealous, or offended, "why didn't he ask me first?!" but I'm pretty sure it worked in my favor.

While we were in separate missions, we sent each other letters. We'd write to get to know more about each other, but also success stories, testimonies, spiritual thoughts. I always was impressed with how spiritually tuned she was, and also how lively and down to earth she was. She still is. Although I mostly wrote her to practice my Spanish, we wrote less Spanish and more English for each letter, my interest for Spanish turned more into an interest for her.

She got home, we still sent letters.

I got home, got on Facebook, went through messages, updates, friend requests... she had added me, goodie goodie! Facebook turned into Skype. Half an hour turned into two hours. Two hours into 4 hours. It always was SO easy to talk with, Jude. We could talk about science the one minute, then talk about something stupid like Justin Timberlake. We never went empty for topics to talk about.

I was surprised the day she told me that she had bought tickets to come to Norway! Sure, she'd mentioned the possibility, but I never actually expected she would go through with it. I couldn't complain though :) So I suddenly had a gorgeous Return sister missionary come all the way to Norway to see if we clicked. It was torture though, 'cause I had to wait for how long? three months to see her? During that time, my Mom, brother, and I went on a vacation to Turkey as part of a tourist group, and one of our stops was at one of Europe's largest jewelry shops, what do you think I looked for? that's right, and I found the perfect ring for her personality! :) I had only bought the rings IN CASE she was THE ONE. It was funny though, 'cause suddenly everybody in the tourist bus was talking about me, and later on they would give me tips and encouragement. Here's a random fun fact about my trip to Turkey, I ended up talking more in Russian than in English! Turns out many shop owners, either are Russian or learn Russian to help the many Russian tourists :)

Now for the real fun part, the day she arrived at the airport! I should say first that many of my friends had put in their wager-less bets on how long it would take me to "shalalalalalalala... kiss the girl!" so there I am with my "Ms. Rivas" sign, waiting. Then she walks through the door, I was speechless! she was actually there, in front of me. So I guess I went awkwardly in for the hug, she went in for the kiss, turned into a face-on-chest hug... haha, but it gave me the courage I needed, so I walked her out to the car, and  we had our first kiss. Now kids, kisses aren't always like you see them in the movies, they're not always smooth, we knocked teeth a couple of times! Then I drove her home.

We had three days of constant dating, getting to know each other even better, but the truth is: I'm marrying myself! I took her out to my cabin in Arendal with married friend couple of mine (chaperones). November 5th, at about 5 AM we got engaged. We'd just been talking all night, and the topic of marriage naturally came up, 'cause my ingenious friend, Martin, brought up the question "so when are you getting married?"

We drove home with the great news, Mom was very excited. Then, for the proposal, it was so romantic, for any girls reading this, please sit down, for any guys, either get a bag or skip this paragraph. Jude didn't know about the rings I'd bought, so I take them out of my hiding spot, take a little breath on the other side of the wall. I then walk up to Jude in my mom's living room, she's in her PJs, my mom is sitting right there, I get down on one knee and say "Judith Rivas, will you marry me?"

The End Then the beginning of something beautiful just started. We talked about a date to get married and sealed for eternity, and figured we'd need a couple of months to get the necessary papers and and requirements, so we decided April 6th would be perfect. It also just happens to be the day the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, and the day we believe Jesus was born, also the day the Salt Lake temple was dedicated, and the day ABBA won the 19th annual Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo." so this day is very special to us :)

To be honest, time has gone much faster than expected, I thought it'd be foooreeeveeer til Jude'd come back March 19th, but now there's only one month left! Then only two and a half weeks til we're married.

I think that's all I can tell from my side of this story. Thanks for your time and attention!

with love,

Brother Stoops.